Is Wear OS doomed?

On the 18th of March 2014, Google launched Android Wear, its software solution for wearables (smartwatches). Now, five years later and with a new name (Wear OS), how much has the platform grown and improved?

Android Central in its hands-on article covering the Galaxy Watch Active, claimed that Samsung's latest offering (which runs on Tizen) was better than every single Wear OS device currently in the market.

Engadget published a good piece that looks back at Wear OS over the last five years, from its inception through numerous software upgrades which were meant to improve the platform. Yet despite all that, Wear OS is still not as "mature" as people would expect.

In its five years, Google's OS has grown smarter and more useful and has even undergone a serious makeover. But the system, now known as Wear OS, still doesn't feel fully matured.

So what went wrong? Well for starters, it's not that the smartwatch market is stagnating. Quite the opposite. In 2018, smartwatch sales increased by 54.3% according to the IDC, so more people are buying smartwatches, which should incentivise all parties involved. Yet for some reason, all parties involved in Wear OS seem to be dragging their feet.

Google still doesn't have its own smartwatch, despite rumours of a Pixel Watch persisting for so long, Qualcomm took two years to design a new wearable-focused processor, the Snapdragon Wear 3100 coming in 2018 after 2016's Snapdragon Wear 2100, and many long-time Android partners who initially supported Wear OS (then Android Wear) have abandoned ship, either completely exiting the smartwatch market all together or choosing to go with their own in-house software instead of Wear OS. Motorola, maker of the much loved Moto 360, exited the market after just two years, citing weak demand as the reason behind the decision. Huawei, the company which made one of the best reviewed Android Wear smartwatches ever, decided to use its own in-house software for all future smartwatches made by the company, possibly leaving Wear OS due to weak support from Google. Finally, despite being one of Google's launch partners when Android Wear was first announced, Samsung has yet to release a smartwatch running Wear OS since then, instead opting to launch all of its smartwatches with Tizen.

Perhaps "doomed" is too strong a word. There are some good Wear OS watches out there. The Fossil Sport, Mobvoi TicWatch Pro, and Skagen Falster 2 have all been well reviewed. However, their good reviews aren't really due to Wear OS, but in spite of Wear OS. These watches were praised for their looks and their selling price, not the software.

I've been interested in buying a smartwatch for a long time, but I just never felt convinced enough to actually buy one. The combination of Wear OS' negative perception among reviewers as well as the slightly inhibitive pricing has kept me away thus far, so instead I've been using a Xiaomi Mi Band 2 as like a gateway drug into the wearable market. I still want to try and use a smartwatch, and with the Galaxy Watch Active arriving in Malaysia next week, I'm definitely going to check it out in person. At just RM799 ($195), it's about RM400 (almost $100) cheaper than any other current gen Wear OS watch available in the country.

Do you have a Wear OS smartwatch? How do you like it? Or if you don't have a smartwatch, would you consider Wear OS or look elsewhere?

I do not have one, because like you have been vacillating when and which one to get. I love watches loaded with technology and special qualities. Of all my life, I only have a Breitling colt, an all Titanium Orient, and my favorite a Citizen's Blue Angels Titanium atomic light powered watch.

I remember many, many years ago when I had my first red LED display digital watch, it may have been a Timex. I loved it!

To me, a watch is the only jewelry I will ever wear, but only on occasions. That said the wear OS - smart watch concept is super cool IF they are very functional. Something like this really turns me on:

I've debated whether or not to buy a smartwatch for some time, but gave in when the Fossil Sport was released and then eventually was on sale for something like 50€ off. I'm mostly happy with it, the few things I don't like about it have more to do with Fossil than with Wear OS.

It shows the time and, more importantly, allows me to have a quick look at incoming notifications while in public or conversation, without being too rude and impolite by constantly looking at my phone. It simplifies my fitness tracking by not having to start workouts on the phone, and even adds a heartbeat monitor to the mix. It allows to pause or skip a track while using my phone to listen to some music.

My use cases for the watch may be a bit simple - but I wonder what else people even expect from a tiny monitor on your wrist?

yup I agree. If you're using android, the reasonable choice would be to get mi band or huami amazfit series. Cheaper and good value for money. Unfortunately Pebble has been discontinued, otherwise it's a fine option too.

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